'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Russian MMA champions often occupy a class of their own, with this distinction first arising due to the legendary exploits of Khabib Nurmagomedov. But in 2025, with 'The Eagle' now retired for five years, others have emerged to represent Russia's place in the sport. Among them is Islam Makhachev.
At UFC 311, Makhachev extended his UFC win streak to 15 consecutive victories, defending his lightweight title against short-notice replacement Renato Moicano. Unfortunately for both Russia and Dagestan, Umar Nurmagomedov failed to join the championship ranks, losing to Merab Dvalishvili in a competitive bout.
His brother, Usman Nurmagomedov, though, will look to continue his dominant run in Bellator by defeating Paul Hughes this Saturday. There are, however, other Russian MMA champions to be considered. So, who are they?
Trending
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
#5. Ramazan Kuramagomedov, Bellator MMA welterweight champion
Ramazan Kuramagomedov is not yet a household name in MMA. However, last June he dethroned Bellator MMA welterweight champion Jason Jackson in a competitive matchup. The Russian was completely dominant in round one, scoring an easy takedown before riding off the remaining minutes in top position.
However, he faded in surprisingly quick fashion and was unable to effectively implement his wrestling for the rest of the fight, resorting to striking and clinching. As the fight ticked onward, he even conceded a takedown himself, but briefly threatened with a tight guillotine.
In the end, he won via unanimous decision to capture Bellator welterweight gold and extend his undefeated run to 13-0. Now, he will have to reassert his position by successfully defending his title for the first time when that time comes.
#4. Shamil Musaev, PFL welterweight champion
Shamil Musaev is a difficult fighter to assess due to his lack of top-tier competition. However, he is the PFL welterweight champion and there are certain factors to consider when evaluating his quality as a fighter. First, he is undefeated at 18-0-1, with 14 finishes to his name.
Second, he authored an excellent display against Logan Storley. MMA math is flawed, but Storley is an extremely high-level wrestler, a four-time NCAA Division I All-American in fact, whose skill was enough to best both Michael 'Venom' Page and the streaking Joaquin Buckley prior to their UFC days.
In fact, he ragdolled 'New Mansa,' who Colby Covington could do little against. Musaev completely shut down Storley's wrestling and stayed patient, rocking him badly with counterpunches toward the end of round one, before annihilating him early in round two with a flatline knockout.
#3. Usman Nurmagomedov, Bellator MMA lightweight champion
The brightest active star of the Nurmagomedov clan in MMA is Usman Nurmagomedov, who has reigned as the Bellator MMA lightweight champion since 2022, when he defeated Patricky 'Pitbull' Freire. Since then, he has used his well-rounded skill-set to solidify his place at the top.
He became one of the few fighters in ex-UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson's 42-fight career to finish him, submitting him within two minutes to defend his belt. Unfortunately, his subsequent fight left his record with an asterisk. What was originally a unanimous decision win for him was overturned.
He had faced Brent Primus, but a positive test for a banned substance led to a no-contest. Upon his return, the Dagestani star scored a unanimous decision win over Alexandr Shabliy, and is now hoping to turn away the brash Paul Hughes this Saturday.
#2. Anatoly Malykhin, ONE light heavyweight and middleweight champion
At one point, Anatoly Malykhin was confident he was the world's greatest fighter, and it was easy to see why he believed as much. After all, he remains the first fighter to capture three championship belts in different divisions in a major MMA promotion.
A heavily-muscled and powerful fighter with dynamite in his hands and a strong wrestling base, Malykhin ran through ONE Championship's middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions, annihilating everyone in his path, including names like Reinier de Ridder, who has found success in the UFC.
Moreover, his previous 14-0 record consisted of 14 finishes, with 10 knockouts and four submissions. Unfortunately, besides names like de Ridder and, to an extent, Arjan Bhullar, he hasn't faced the best competition. To make matters worse, his ranking has been hurt by a recent loss to Omar 'Reug Reug' Kane at heavyweight.
#1. Islam Makhachev, UFC lightweight champion
Not only is Islam Makhachev the world's greatest Russian MMA champion, he is also the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He is the current UFC lightweight champion, fresh off a dominant title defense against Renato Moicano, who was previously scheduled to take on Beneil Dariush at UFC 311.
After Arman Tsarukyan withdrew from the lightweight title fight with just 24 hours left, the Brazilian was called in. Unfortunately for him, Makhachev ran through him, submitting him in four minutes to become the sole UFC lightweight title defense record-holder, with four consecutive defenses.
His run has been something to behold, as he has beaten Dustin Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski twice, and Charles Oliveira in his championship bouts. And besides his first bout with Volkanovski, he has finished everyone when the lights were brightest.
